Also, posted this in the FFA but here's a good interview with Shelton about the Hellwell album with some pretty interesting details about the new MR at the end.... needless to say, I'm even more excited than before.

It's certainly my favorite album cover since The Deluge (and I really love Spiral Castle's cover). It's the complete antithesis of everything that made up Playground of the Damned's cover. I wouldn't mind if that was also paralleled in the music. I'm expecting more speed, that's for sure.

Well god damn it that is bad ass! I had to look up the original just to remember what it looked like. I still think the original is pretty sweet in its own right but this one just has that ancient feel that befits such an album. I would have thought Atlantis Rising was towards the bottom of the "to be reissued" pile though, that surprises me. May take this as inspiration to break my copy out, haven't spun it in forever.

Actually there's not much left to reissue. Out of the Abyss, Mark of the Beast and... I think that's pretty much it. Just got Open the Gates, Courts of Chaos and Voyager today, and Mystification and Spiral Castle are on their way. My MR collection's getting at last closer to completion!

I love Manilla Road, but never been able to get a hold of their albums on CD - I've heard a lot of stuff, but obviously without the full album experience there is heaps of stuff missing in my knowledge. I'll be grabbing these reissues for sure, can't wait.

Mark of the Beast doesn't need a reissue, Rockadrome did it last year. Out of the Abyss is the only one left as far as I know; and Live Roadkill if you count that. Luckily I bought the double CD Out of the Abyss with Live Roadkill when Rockadrome still stocked it!

The original Atlantis Rising artwork was fine, but I do like this one.

I'm really stoked for the live appearances next year, I'm going to try to make MDF and Chaos in Tejas. I really need another copy of Metal, I have the Invasion/Metal 2CD and some motherfucker stole my Metal disc, one of my favorite albums of all time.

Also, Manilla Road still have it live, it's going to be fucking insane singing along with them.

Both new covers look excellent (Atlantis Rising, Mysterium), and the Metal cover is certainly better than original.

I wasn't extremely fond of the production on Playground - while I appreciate the notion of avoiding overly polished production, the album was somewhat subdued by the lack of punch. Manilla Road always sounded the best with the most natural production, whereas Playground was somewhat too muddy. Superior to the last pre-splitup productions, at any rate - I'd probably rather Out of the Abyss sounded like that. Anyhow, the material on Playground was certainly of good quality, the only issue is that they currently lack a singer with powerful range of expression. Shelton's charisma is unique and his low notes have fuckloads of power (just listen to the verse of the title track!), but he obviously can't sing in higher registers anymore, and Hellroadie isn't a particularly amazing singer.

Also, Manilla Road still have it live, it's going to be fucking insane singing along with them.

Man, I think I could sing every verse of Necropolis and Divine Victim with them. Can't fucking wait for MDF. But something that annoys me, is that every one of their 2 hours (or is it 3?) live set when they play a complete album is always during school semesters... Next they're playing Crystal Logic I don't remember where, but again I can't attend it!

im hoping the will finally play the netherlands again... last time was only 1986. I know one of the guys behind roadburn has been trying to get them for a few years and i suggested if all the festivals dont wouldnt like if he would get them then he should get them to play hellwell material next roadburn haha.Im considering going to metal assault but as its in germany its not looking very likely.

Looking forward to this. I've been on early Manilla Road kick lately, listening only to Invasion, Metal and Mark of the Beast. There's so many great songs there, The Dream Goes On, Queen of the Black Coast, Court of Avalon etc. I think this new record has the potential to become the best since Out of the Abyss. Well, judging by the cover and other information only. I guess I can't say anything until I hear it.

Finally listened to the Hellwell album, pretty solid. Love the feel of it.

And you know that Throne of Lies track which Iron Glory took out of the cd version and pissed off Shelton? I used to really dislike it and ponder how it would even fit on the album, but frankly, the more I listen to it the more I appreciate it (up to a certain limit). I'm still not particularly fond of the ''chorus'', and I think it's what really turned me off, but it's not as annoying as before. There's still a certain feel and nice riffs too, it's actually a pretty good song if you take out the chorus (vocals and riff).